f1 Visa

A student visa application appears straightforward–until the DS-160 inquires about previous marriages. For an individual who was briefly married to an H1B holder, the timeline bevcomes complicated.

The marriage in Feb 2022 was to initiate the H4 process. Bit prior to securing the visa, the couple parted ways. In order to expedite legal separation, the date was predated to six days after the marriage. Divorce was processed in July 2023.

Also Read – H1B Dropbox Timing Close to Expiry Date

Now comes the actual question. Should the backdated date of separation or the actual divorce date be used? More importantly, will previous H4 attempts trigger red flags?

On paper, the individual was still requisition an H4 visa months after the separation. A visa officer could questio intent. Any date inconsistency could make matters worse.

Also Read – Passport Renewal Causes I-94 Surprise


Transparency is the watchword. The DS-160 ought to correspond legal documents so there is no future trouble. Providing a clear scenario description can enable focus to stay on studying.